Loose Seats On Airplane Force Emergency Landing

Loose Seats On Airplane Force Emergency Landing

Shocking video showed row after row of seats being removed from two grounded American Airlines planes.

The drama unfolded Tuesday at Logan Airport in Boston as American Airlines tried to deal with one of its worst crises in its history—with everyone asking, is it sabotage?

The pilot radioed to the control tower, “We have some seats loose in the back and we have to return to base."

In the last week three jetliners had entire rows of seats come loose in mid-flight.

Former commercial pilot John Lucich told INSIDE EDITION, "If someone did intentionally do this, there is absolutely no doubt this is a Federal crime. Tampering with an aircraft is a Federal crime."

Now, a startling image of rows of seats being taken off more planes is worrying American Airlines passengers.

One passenger said, "I am trying to fly home today to go to a funeral, so I am very concerned. Not only for my safety, but am I going to get home?"

"Every flight should be in tip-top shape when people get on it," said one another.

“We don't want that thing flying around hurting the passengers behind them," said a pilot on an American Airlines flight from JFK to Miami informing the control tower on Monday that he was turning back after the seats came loose.

Air travel expert George Hobica told INSIDE EDITION, "Well, this could have not come at a worse time for American Airlines. They are in Chapter 11, they have pilot job actions going on, and now they have three of these loose seat incidents occurring. It is just kind of disastrous news."

American Airlines is in the middle of a bitter labor dispute with pilots and mechanics. An Airline spokesman denied any link between the incidents and the ongoing labor strife.

"We’re working very diligently to gather all the facts related to our 757 seat issue. Our maintenance teams continue to inspect aircraft in our 757 fleet to determine what caused the issue,” said the airline.